Cat Financial Financing Activities (Details 5) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 Contracts	Sep. 30, 2012 Contracts	Sep. 30, 2013 Contracts	Sep. 30, 2012 Contracts
Customer
Loans modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts (in contracts)	82	58	132	111
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	$ 195	$ 159	$ 237	$ 202
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	196	159	240	202
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Number of Contracts (in contracts)	10	10	25	57
Post-TDR Recorded Investment	1	2	7	25
Customer | North America
Loans modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts (in contracts)	14	17	46	58
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	1	4	5	8
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	0	4	5	8
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Number of Contracts (in contracts)	5	8	18	39
Post-TDR Recorded Investment	1	1	4	3
Customer | Europe
Loans modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts (in contracts)	7	14	15	21
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	5	1	6	8
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	5	1	6	8
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Number of Contracts (in contracts)	5	0	5	0
Post-TDR Recorded Investment	0	0	0	0
Customer | Asia Pacific
Loans modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts (in contracts)	0	12	0	12
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	0	3	0	3
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	0	3	0	3
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Number of Contracts (in contracts)	0	2	0	2
Post-TDR Recorded Investment	0	1	0	1
Customer | Mining
Loans modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts (in contracts)	45	0	45	0
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	123	0	123	0
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	123	0	123	0
Customer | Latin America
Loans modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts (in contracts)	10	0	16	0
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	1	0	2	0
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	1	0	2	0
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance
Loans modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts (in contracts)	6	15	10	20
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	65	151	101	183
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	67	151	104	183
Additional funds loaned not recorded as TDRs	13		25
Remaining Commitments	4		4
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Number of Contracts (in contracts)			2	16
Post-TDR Recorded Investment			$ 3	$ 21
Dealer
Loans modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts (in contracts)	0	0	0	0